The United States imposed sanctions on companies it accused of playing a critical role in the production, sale and shipment of Iranian petrochemicals and petroleum to buyers in Asia, as Washington increases pressure on Tehran

Big Oil more than doubled its profits in 2022 to $219 billion, smashing previous records in a year of volatile energy prices where Russia’s invasion of Ukraine reshaped global energy markets and, in some cases, the industry’s climate ambitions

Oil producers may have to reconsider their output policies following a demand recovery in China, the world’s second-largest oil consumer, the International Energy Agency’s Executive Director Fatih Birol said

Oil prices rose from an 8% drop last week on supply concerns, but was still trading near three-week lows, driven by worries that slower growth in major economies may limit fuel use

Oil prices steadied as investors sought more clarity on the imminent EU embargo on Russian refined fuels, with prices set for a second weekly loss in the absence of clear signs of demand recovery in top consumer China

Oil prices steadied on mixed data about the state of the U.S. economy and looming sanctions on Russian oil products. Both benchmarks plunged more than 3% overnight after U.S. government data showed a large build in oil stocks

Ministers from the OPEC+ producer group comprising the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and allies including Russia kept their output policy unchanged

Output is significantly undershooting targeted amounts because many producers – notably Nigeria and Angola – lack the capacity to pump at the agreed levels

An OPEC+ panel is likely to recommend keeping the oil producer group’s current output policy unchanged when it meets this week

Both U.S. crude and gasoline inventories rose in the week ending Jan. 20, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) said, on weaker demand for fuel products